Arizona Indian Reservation

Fort Apache located in the foothills of the White Mountains of Arizona offers a very interesting travel stop. The fort was established in 1870 at the confluence of the east and north forks of the White River. This was a very important military outpost in the center of the White Mountain Apache homeland and today is within an Apache Arizona Indian Reservation.

One of the most interesting aspect of Fort Apache is what was established there in the latter years of the fort's existence. This was the Theodore Roosevelt School, established in 1923 by an act of Congress.

Theodore Roosevelt School cafeteria building

The Theodore Roosevelt School

Today when you visit Fort Apache there are a great many of it's historic structures still standing. It's a fascinating and very scenic place to visit. The fort actually had several names prior to it being designated Fort Apache. At one time the outpost went by the names of Camp Ord, Camp Mogollon and Camp Thomas.

The school's first students were actually Navajo Indian children but eventually the school was attended by Apache children exclusively. The school was within the Apache Arizona Indian Reservation. This was a boarding school administered by the Bureau of Indian Affairs. Interestingly enough a school still operates today at the same site as a middle school, under the administration of a school board selected by the  Apache Tribal Council.

Naming this school in honor of former president Theodore Roosevelt was quite fitting. Having spent a good deal of time in the west operating a cattle ranch,taking part in several hunting expeditions and meeting several Indian leaders in person, Roosevelt was more acquainted with Native Americans than any other president before him.

Boy's Dormitory Building

One very significant change that Roosevelt promoted as president was giving Native Americans preference in attaining teaching and medical service positions on the reservation. Prior to this the people who filled these positions worked under Civil Service classifications. While Roosevelt strongly defended Manifest Destiny this was a big step in Native American self governance. Theodore Roosevelt was also known to appoint people with actual native American knowledge to the post of commissioner of Indian Affairs.



Fort Apache Historic School Buildings

When you visit Fort Apache today you'll notice several large buildings on the eastern side of the fort.

Some of the buildings you'll see are the cafeteria building that was constructed in 1948. This building still serves as a cafeteria today.

You'll also see the Girl's Dormitory building that was built in 1932. The construction of this building was by the work of the Works Progress Administration during the early years of the Great Depression.

Girl's Dormitory Building

Another very large structure on this Apache Arizona Indian reservation is the Boy's Dormitory Building which was also constructed by the W.P.A. in 1932. The building was constructed with sandstone from a nearby quarry. Prior to the buildings construction the school used the old Cavalry barracks to house students.

Eventually new schools were constructed nearby and the students attending the Theodore Roosevelt School were transferred to these. After the transfer of the Apache students, the site became a boarding school  for students of many tribes. It remains open today.



The links below are to three additional Western Trips photo articles you'll enjoy.

Historic Old Tucson Arizona

A Visit to Old Town Scottsdale Arizona

A Man-Made Wonder in Sedona Arizona

Fort Apache Officers Quarters Bldg.

Visiting the old Theodore Roosevelt Boarding School

Fort Apache, the site of the Theodore Roosevelt School and in an area within the Apache Arizona Indian Reservation, is located in one of the most scenic parts of Arizona. The White Mountains area of northeastern Arizona is a very popular tourist and recreation area. This is also a part of Arizona that has the largest stand of Ponderosa Pines.

People also enjoy this part of Arizona which offers a respite from desert heat and features crystal clear streams. During winter the area also offers skiing opportunities. Arizona's White Mountains offer visitors a part of the state that experiences four seasons.

Fort Apache and the Theodore Roosevelt Boarding School is located just east of Arizona Highway 73 and about four miles south of the town of White River. The fort is about 190 miles north of Tucson and about 175 miles east of Phoenix.

Fort Apache Museum and Visitors Center

The Fort Apache Visitors Center was opened in 1969.This is also the White Mountain Apache Cultural Center and Museum. This is a must stop while at the fort. The museum displays a large collection of artifacts, photos, manuscripts and other information about Apache history and culture. 

Another nearby site you'll want to include in your trip to Fort Apache are the Kinishba Ruins. The ruins are a National Historic Landmark and are located just four miles west of the fort. The Kinishba Ruins are what remains of a pueblo village that was once occupied by ancestors of today's Zuni and Hopi pueblo tribes. The site was designated as a National Historic Landmark because it's an excellent example of what a settlement was like by agricultural puebloans. The site was initially excavated during the 1930's and was partially rebuilt. This historic site dates back to 1200 to 1400 A.D.

(Content and photos copyright Western Trips)


View Larger Map